diff --git a/src/helma/servlet/AbstractServletClient.java b/src/helma/servlet/AbstractServletClient.java
index 8f361ff3..efffa141 100644
--- a/src/helma/servlet/AbstractServletClient.java
+++ b/src/helma/servlet/AbstractServletClient.java
@@ -338,6 +338,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractServletClient extends HttpServlet {
             res.setContentLength(hopres.getContentLength());
             res.setContentType(hopres.getContentType());
 
+            if ("HEAD".equalsIgnoreCase(req.getMethod())) {
+                return;
+            }
+
             try {
                 OutputStream out = res.getOutputStream();